Adjustable neckband for shirts.



C. C. BALDWIN.

ADJUSTABLE NBCKBAND POB. SHIRTS.

APPLIoA'rIoN FILED rms. 7,1913,

1,1 19,217, Patented Dec. 1,1914.

aucune CLARENCE C. BALDWIN, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

ADJUSTABLE NECKBAND FOR SHIRTS.

Application filed February 7, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE C. BALD- WIN, citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Neckbands for Shirts, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to neck bands for mens shirts and has as its object to provide a neck band the size of which may be increased or diminished to suit the wearer of the shirt or to provide for the attachment of collars of different sizes.

The invention has in view the provision of a neck band which forms a component part of the shirt and which may be adjusted as to size so that a dealer in shirts provided with the neck band will not be required to keep in stock a number of sizes of shirts of a different style, but all of the shirts of any one style may be of the same size and adapted, by reason of the adjustability of the neck band, to lit different persons and for the attachment of collars of various sizes.

Another aim of the invention is to so construct a neck band that it will automatically adapt itself to the neck of the wearer of the shirt and will be automatically increased or diminished in size as the collar is being buttoned thereto.

It is a well known fact that it is a difficult matter to button a collar which is of the same or smaller size than the neck band to which it is to be applied, for there is a tendency for the neck band to buckle thereby not only rendering the same uncomfortable but liable to work beneath the edge of the collar.

The present invention therefore aims to so construct the neckband of a shirt that as the collar is being buttoned at the front, the neckband will be automatically contracted to permit of readily and conveniently fastening the collar.

A further aim of the invention is to provide an adjustable neck band for shirts so constructed that the appearance of a shirt will not be detracted from, and expansion or contraction of the neck band will result in corresponding expansion or contraction of the shoulder portions of the shirt.

Another object in view is to provide a neck band which, upon the removal of the shirt collar, will automatically expand or Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

serial No. 746,955.

become loosened so as to become comfortable to the wearer and render unnecessary the unbuttoning of the top button of the shirt for comfort.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shirt equipped with the neck band embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a group perspective view illustrating the manner of assembling the ad- )ustable sections of the neck band.

In the drawings, the front or bosom of the shirt is indicated by the numeral 1 and back by the numeral 2, the front and back being united at the shoulders of the shirt by the usual shoulder seam 3, which, however', is folded in a manner the reverse of that found in shirts as ordinarily made. From the neck line, the seam 3 is left open for a dis,- tance of several inches, more or less, as indicated at 4, and the shoulder portions of the back 2 being extended beneath the shoulder portions of the front 1, as indicated at 5, so as to form gussets which close the open portion 4 of the seam 3. At this point it will be apparent that the shirt at the neck line may be expanded or contracted.

The neck band of the shirt is formed in three sections, one section being secured to the back 2 at the neck line thereof and the other sections being secured to the sides of the bosom 1 at the neck line. The firstmentioned section of the neck band is indicated by the numeral G and is preferably of four-ply structure, its plies being stitched together at their upper and lower edges eX- cept at a point midway between the ends of the section where the two outer plies are unattached to the two inner plies, and the said outer plies are formed with a button hole 7. At each end the section 6 has its outer plies decreased in width for a distance of several inches, more or less, and these narrower portions of the outer plies constitute guide strips 8 with which the othervsections of the neck band are slidably connected, as will be presently pointed out. It will be seen that at the ends of the strip portions 8, the outer plies are secured to the inner plies by lines of stitching 9. To the lower edge of the inner plies of the neck band 6 is stitched the upper edge of the back and the upper edges of the shoulder portions 2 thereof, the upper edge of the gusset portion 5 being stitched to the said plies of the neck band section 6 at points below the strips 8. Each of the other sections of the neck band is indicated by the numeral l and each is provided at one end with a button hole 11. The other end of each of the sections has fitted between its plies the ends of a loop 1Q which is of course of the same material as the remainder of the neck band. These loops 12 engage about the strips 8 and in this manner the neck band sections 10 are supported for sliding adjustmentV upon the section 6, and this adjustable connection of the three sections of the neck band will permit of expansion and contraction of the band, as will be apparent.

From the foregoing description of the invention it` will'be seen that there is provided an adjustable neck band for inens shirts which will automatically adapt itself to the neck of the wearer of the shirt and 'to lthe collar being worn. And it will further be seen that even when the neck band is eX- panded to its 'greatest extent, the open .portion of the shoulder seams Will be closed by the gussets and the appearance of the shirt 'will not be detracted from, and furthermore of stitching, the upper and lower longitudinal edges of the guide strips between said vrows of stitching being cut-away to form a sisting of a back section formed of a plu-` rality of plies, the outer plies having portions thereof free of `the inner plies and having their upper and lower longitudinal edges cut-away to form longitudinally disposed loops of less width than the inner` plies, said loops'being connected at their opposite ends to the inner plies by spaced lines of stitching, front sections overlapping the back section, and transverse loops secured to the rear ends of the front sections and embracing the longitudinal loops, the inner face of the 'back section and the outer faces :of the front sections being unobstructed.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE C. BALDWIN. [L. Si] Witnesses C. E. BALDWIN,

O. L. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

